Potomac DA-ECNL roundup: Weekend sweeps for Bethesda-Olney, FC Virginia

The new season of the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) and the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) kicked off across the country over the weekend, with a number of elite boys and girls teams from across D.C., Maryland and Virginia opening their campaigns at the start of what promises to be a long season of soccer.

Let’s take a look at how the teams from our region did during the opening weekend of the 2014-15 season.

USSDA

Baltimore Bays Chelsea

Under-15/16s 0-7 Philadelphia Union (9/6)
Under-17/18s 1-4 Philadelphia Union (9/6)

Baltimore Bays Chelsea drew a tough opening round matchup with the Philadelphia Union.

In the Under-17/18s game, the Union won 4-1 thanks to goals from Sebastian Elney, Derrick Amaniampong, Brandon Levano and Michael Swift, with Baltimore’s lone strike coming courtesy of Randy Rowe.

Baltimore’s Under-15/16s had an even harsher time of things, failing to score in a 7-0 humbling. Colin Brezniak and Tiger Graham both scored braces for the MLS academy side, with other goals coming from Kurtis Orrson, Auston Trusty and Alexander Soto.

Bethesda-Olney

Under-13/14s 0-0 Prince William Soccer, Inc. (9/6)
Under-15/16s 4-1 Continental FC DELCO (9/6)
Under-17/18s 3-2 Continental FC DELCO (9/6)

Bethesda-Olney’s three teams went unbeaten in their opening fixtures, with the two older age groups enjoying a clean sweep over Continental FC DELCO of Downington, Pa.

The Under-13/14s played to a 0-0 draw against USSDA newcomers Prince William Soccer, Inc., with three of Bethesda-Olney’s players picking up yellow card cautions in the course of the game.

The Under-15/16s started brightly with a 4-1 win over DELCO, with all four goals coming in the space of 29 minutes in the first half. Benjamin Di Rosa set them on their way, with John McCune III, Matthew Di Rosa and Juan Ramirez also finding the net. Diallo Simon-Ponte pulled one back for Continental, but that was not enough.

The Under-17/18s came back from a 2-1 deficit late on to take a 3-2 victory over DELCO. Stephen Harlan IV had given Bethesda-Olney the lead, but two goals in the space of three minutes from Rushawn Larmond and Cole Niggeman put Continental ahead. However, Samson Sergi found the net twice, including the winner in the 82nd minute, to give his side the win.

D.C. United

Under-13/14s 2-0 Lehigh Valley United (9/6)
Under-15/16s p-p NJCSA (9/6)
Under-17/18s 6-2 NJCSA (9/6)

Under-15/16s 2-4 New York Red Bulls (9/7)
Under-17/18s 1-6 New York Red Bulls (9/7)

It was a packed weekend of action for D.C. United’s academy sides, with the Under-15/16s and the Under-17/18s managing to pack in two fixtures apiece in New Jersey.

The MLS side’s Under-13/14s came away from their opening fixture against Lehigh Valley United with a 2-0 victory after a goal in each half from Kyle Davis and Alexis Cerritos respectively.

Unfortunately, United’s Under-15/16s clash with NJCSA on Saturday fell victim to the weather and will be rearranged for a later date. Sunday, D.C. played MLS academy counterparts New York Red Bulls and went down to a 4-2 defeat. Mason Deeds, Omir Fernandez added goals on top of a double from Ryan Mingachos for the Red Bulls, with Carson Jeffris and Jairo Funez’s strikes not enough for United.

It was a mixed weekend for United’s Under-17/18s, as they beat NJCSA 6-2 on Saturday but lost 6-1 to the New York Red Bulls the following day. Jean-Christophe Koffi, Daniel Reeves, Jorge Calix, Eryk Williamson, a Cristian Martinez own goal and Antonio Bustamante helped United get past NJCSA, but they could only muster a late Bustamante consolation against the Red Bulls in their second fixture.

Prince William Soccer, Inc.

Under-13/14s 0-0 Bethesda-Olney (9/6)

Prince William Soccer, Inc. made their USSDA debut on Saturday in one of four games they will play in the month of September, and did well to hold Bethesda-Olney to a 0-0 draw at Howison Park in Woodbridge, Va.

Richmond United

Under-15/16s 2-4 New York Red Bulls (9/6)
Under-17/18s 0-4 New York Red Bulls (9/6)

Under-15/16s 2-0 NJCSA (9/7)
Under-17/18s 3-0 NJCSA (9/7)

Another team to make their USSDA bow over the weekend was Richmond United, an amalgamation of the Richmond Kickers and Richmond Strikers. Their two sides in action had identical outcomes, as they lost on Saturday but won on Sunday.

The Under-15/16s played the New York Red Bulls on Saturday and were defeated 4-2 after a Brian Saramago brace and goals from Zaire Bartley and Omir Fernandez. However, they made up for that disappointing start with a 2-0 victory over NJCSA the following day.

The Under-17/18s also lost to the Red Bulls on Saturday, as Marcello Borges and Derrick Etienne added to a brace from Cameron Harr to take the MLS academy side to victory. The following day, Richmond earned a 3-0 victory thanks to a double from Myles Brown and a late third from Keenan O’Shea.

ECNL

FC Virginia

Under-13/14s 4-2 Ohio Elite Soccer Academy (9/6)

Under-13/14s 6-2 Carmel United (9/7)

FC Virginia’s Under-13/14s team got off to the best possible start in the new ECNL season, as they took two victories in two days over the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy and Carmel United of Indiana.

On Saturday, FCV ran out 4-2 winners thanks to a double from Rebecca Bartosh and additional strikes from Cassidy Brown and Zoe Tran. They then enjoyed a big 6-2 win over Carmel United the following day, as braces from Abbey Duncan and Caroline Suder combined with goals from Victoria Powell and Bartosh.

Maryland United & McLean YS

Under-13/14s 0-1 McLean Youth Soccer (9/7)

Aleigh Gambone scored the only goal of the game as Maryland United fell to a 1-0 defeat away to McLean Youth Soccer at the start of their ECNL season.

For McLean, the 1-0 win over Maryland was the best start possible, with Kendall Robertson named as the game’s MVP.

Richmond United

Under-13/14s 8-3 Carmel United (9/6)

Under-13/14s 4-0 Ohio Elite Soccer Academy (9/7)

New to ECNL this year is Richmond United, which comes out of a merger between the Richmond Kickers and the Richmond Strikes, just like on the boys’ side.

The Under-13/14s made a brilliant start as they racked up 12 goals in two victories over the weekend, starting on Saturday by beating Carmel United 8-3. United then kept a clean sheet against Ohio Elite Soccer Academy in a 4-0 victory that helps them start things off with an impressive goal differential.